Lifting-jack



L. 1,; BERKELEY. Umm; JACK. AFPUCATIION FILED JUNE I4, i99.

2 sHEEIs-'SHLET z.

mmm Mur. 9, 19201 LIFTING JACK.' APPLICATION FILED )UNE I4. 1919.

Patented Mar.

w Q IAMN f liz-III.

2 SHEtTS-SHEH 2.

UNITED sTATEs rATENT OFFICE.

LAURENCE J. BERKELEY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WALER MANUFAC-TURING COMPANY, AOF RACINE. WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

LIFTING-JACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

Application filed .Tune 14, 1919. Serial No. 304,198.

Be it lknown that I, LAURENCE J. BERKE- LEY, a citizen of the Unit-edStates, residing at Racine, in the county of Racine and State ofWisconsin, havclinvented `certain new and useful Improvementsin`Lifting- Jacks, of which the following is a specification, referenceheilig had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

The main objects of this invention are to produce a lifting jack whichcan be conveniently operated at a distance from and clear of the loadwhich it lifts and the operating connections ofwhich can be readilyshifted out of the way, as for example, for working on the loathsuch asan automobile or other vehicle, while supported by the jack; andgenerally to improve the construction and operation of devices of thisclass.

It consists-in the .censtruction, arrangement and combination of partsas hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like characters designate the same parts inthe eral figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of a lifting jack embodying the invention,showing the lifting member raised and the hand operating lever extendedand turned down and locked for holding the liftingl member and The frameor body of the jack its load in an elevated position; Fig. 2 is a planview of the jack show-ing the parts in positions corresponding withthose shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a reverse side elevation of the jackshowing the lifting member lowered and the hand ojierating lever foldeddown thereon; Fig. 'l is a vertical cross section on 'the line Fig. 3;and Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views on an enlarged scale showing theflexible thrust member and associated parts of the jack, Fig. 5 being avertical longitudinal, section on the line 5-5, Figs. 6 and 7, Fig. 6 across section on the line'-G, Figo, and Fig. 7 a horizontal section onthe line 7-7, Fig. 3.

comprises a hollow upright post or standard 1 which is .formed orprovided adjacent its lower end/with-ahorizontal or lateral.extension 2,and serves to firmly vsupport the standard 1 in operative position andto carryin a conveniently accessible positionihe levers for operatingthe lifting member of the.jack.

f ,The jack -may be, and is preferably,

supported on the jack. To this end a pair.

oftruck wheels. 4, are mounted on the ends of a transverse axle 5,carried by a bracket G, which may be cast as shown, onthefront side ofthe standard 1 adjacent its lower end. .1t its opposite or rear end, theeX- tension 2, which is preferably curved upwardly as shown in Figs. 1and 3, is supported on a caster wheel 8, the 'frame 9 of which isswiveled in a hub 10 formed with the extension 2, ball or roller thrustbearings being prefe ably provided between the hub and vcaster frame. asshown in Fig. 4:.

` The standard '1 is formed with ai vertical .guideway in which a sleeve12 is tit-ted. A

lifting member, which may consist as shown, of a ratchet bar 14,provided atits upper end with a swivel plate or bearing 15, isd

slidably fitted and movable vertically in the sleeve 1Q, or with thesleeve in the standard 1.

An elbow-shaped guide conduit 17 isi A jointed or flexible thrust memberis guided and movable lengthwise in the conduit 17 around the turn orbend therein, and is connected. or engaged at its front end with the lug19. This thrust member may consist as shown, of rollers 2:2, connectedin pairs by axles 23 and spacing links :24, ar-

ticulat'ed with the roller axles, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, therollers and links beingyieldingiy held together by a spiral. spring; 25connected at the ends with the axles of "the end rollers and confined ingrooves in the under sides of' the links.

The axle of the rear ,end rollers 2,3 is ex-A tended and passesfreelythrough horizontal sis slots 27 in the sides of the extension 2.The projecting ends of the rear axle 23 are connected by rods 2S onopposite sides of the extension 2 with the lower ends of branch arms 2Qof a forked lever',- which is fulerumed on studs '30 projecting fromopposite sides of the hub l0 adjacent the rear end of said extension.The b 'anch arms 29 of the lever', preferably made separate :trom 'eachother, are bolted together above the hub l0, and torni at their upperends a socket 'for a handle or lever arm 31, as shown in Figs. 2 and i.The handl" arm 31 is pivotally and slidably connected with the upperends of the branch arms 29 by a pin 32, fastened at the ends in thebranch arms and passing through a longitudinal slot in the handle arm,so that the handle arm may be withdrawn it'rom the socket and foldeddown out of the way on the swivel plate l5 oi the liliting member, asshown'in Fig. 3, when the jack is not in use.'

A hook-shaped pawl 34, pivotally connected with the branch arms 29 abovethe extension is adapted to engage with a ratchet segment formed on orattached to the e`.\;tension,` to lock the hand lever and hold thelifting' member with a load restingv thereon. in a n elevated position,as shown in Fig. 1. The ratchet segment is provided with a lug orshoulder 37, with which the pawl 554 engages to lock and hold the forkarms 29 of the lever in an upright position when the handle arm 31 iswithdrawn from the socket at their upper ends and turned down, as shownin Fig'.

A springBS connecting the pawl 34 with one ot the branch arms 25). tendsto hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet segment 35.

The arm 3l is provided adjacent its outer end with a transverse handlebar 39 and with a. sleeve or collar l0, slidably mounted thereon andconnected by a jointed rod 41 with the pawl 34. The joint in the rod #ilin'approximate alinement with the pivot pin 32 ot the handle arm, andthe section ol' the rod which is connected with the sleeve 4:0 is guidedou the handl, arm adjacent to the joint in the rod, as shown in Figs. 2,3 and el. rl`he Sleeve, l() is' provided with a handle or' `e'rip 42,adjacent to and parallel with the handle bar 539.

To enable the operator to quickly raise the lifting member to thestarting' point in engagement with a load' preparatory to lifting thesame with the handle al'm 31 ot the main opi-.rating lever, the jack isprovided with a 'toot lever 4l. tuh'rumed on one ot the Studs l0 andextending' normally alongslde the extension 2 'to the lower part ot'the" standard l. where it is held in place' and guided by a verticalkeeper l5. formed on or attached to one side ot the standard. as shownin Figs. l, 3 and 7; The ratchet bar lowest or normal position, therein,as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the pawl is provided with a pin or stud l5),projecting' laterally there from through a vertical slot 50 formed inthe adjacent side of the standard, as shown in Fig'. This slot is formedwith an enlargement at its lower end to permit the disengagement of thepa wl 20 from the ratchet bar lei. only when the sleeve 12 is in itslowest position, as shown iu Fig. 5, the pawl being held in engagementwith the ratchet bar and prevelu'ingl accidental release ot' the load bythe engagement ot' the pin or stud 19 with the rear side` ot the slotlwhen the sleeve'isv' elevated.

To taclhtate dlsengagrement of the pawl 2O Atrom the ratchet bar whenthe sleeve 12 has been lowered 'with the load, a` lever 52, pivotallymounted on one side ot the standard 1 and extending at its upper endabovethe lower end' of the `slot 50. is connected at its lower end b v arod 53 with an angular toot lever Si. pivotalljY mounted on theextension 2 adjacent its rear end. A spring` 55, connecting the lever'52 above its itulcrunr with the bracket G, holds said lever normallyagainst a stop 5G, with its upper end in trout ot' the lower end of theslot 50 and out ot' the path of the piu 49, as shown in Fig'. 3.

in the operation ot the jackv` as in lifting a vehicle t'or example, thestandard 1 being brought into position underneath the part ot' thevehicle to be engaged by the lifting` member, and the extension 2carrying the operating' levers being' directed (iutwardly trom thevehicle into a clear space, the ratchet bar 12 is elevated to thestarting' point. bringing the bearing' platt` 15 into engagement withthe vehicle b v depressing' the pedal ot' the toot lever il, whichoperates directly on the ratchet bar b v engage ment with the pin -l-i',the ratchetbar being engaged and held in its elevated starting positionbythe pa wl 20. The handle arm 3l being' turned up into alinement withthe branch arms 29 and thrust into engagement' with the socket betweenthem. as shown in Figs. 1. 2 and l, and unlocked by withdrawin r thepawl--ltrom enga-rement with the lug' ST. is turned outwardfanddownward. to or toward the position in which `it is shown in Figs. 1 and2. thereby operating through the counerting' rods 2Sv and flexiblethrustmember 22 23-24. against'the lug' 19 on the sleeve 12` to raise thesleeve with the lifting' member 14-15and litt the load resting' on thebearing; plate 15. The liftingl member with the load, is locked and heldin elevated position by engagement of the pawl 34 with a tooth of theratchet seg ment The extension 2, with the operating levers andconnections carried thereon, may then be swung` on` the caster wheel 8and truck wheelsl, underneath the vehicle out of the way, thebearingplate' 15 swiveling -on the ratchet bar la. The extension 2 andthe connections between the operating levers and the lifting memberbeing located close to the floor, will pass underneath a wheel or wheelsoil the vehicle when it is elevated but a short distance from the floor.i

To lower the load and remove the jack therefrom, the extension 2, isswung out wardly into clear position, the pawl 34; is withdrawn fromengagement with the ratchet segment 35 by the operatordrawing the handle42 toward the handle bar 39, and the load is lowered with the liftingmember and sleeve, under control of the lever arm 31 held by theoperator. lVhen the sleeve 12 reaches its initial position, as shown inFi gs. 3, 5 and 6, thereby returningthe lifting member to the startingpoint and relieving it of the load, which then rests onO the floor, thepawl 20 is thrown out of engagementl with the-ratchet bar 14 by-depressing` the foot lever 24, and the 'lifting member then drops inthe sleeve l2 into its lowest position, the leve-r arm 3.1 being turnedinto an upright position. The lever arm Bt may then be withdrawn fromthe socket in the branch arms Q9 and folded down out of the' way on thebearing plate l5, shown 1n Fig. 3, the branch arms Q9 o't the leverbeing l locked and leld in an upright position by engagement of thehooked pawl 34 with the lug 37.

Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of partsmay be made without departure from the principle and scope oit theinvention as defined in the following claims.

I claim: A

l. ln a lifting jack the combination of a standard having anelbow-shaped conduit, a lifting member guided in the standard adjacentto and parallel with a part of said 'conduit, a thrust member guided andmovable lengthwise in said conduit, means for releasably connecting thethrust member with the litt-ing member, and means 'for applying pressureto the thrust member to operate the lifting member.

2. In a lifting jack the' combination of a standard having anelbow-shaped conduit, a lifting member guided in the standard adjacentto and parallel with a part of said conduit, a flexiblyv jointed thrustmember guided and movable lengthwise in said conduit, means for`adjustablv connecting one/ end of the thrus j member with the liftingmember, and means for manually exerting pressure on the other end of thethrust member to operate the lifting member.

I 3. In a lifting jack' the combination ,of a

standard having a guideway 'and an elbowshaped conduit part of which isadjacent to and parallel with said guideway, al sleeve fitted andmovable lengthwise in the guideway, a lifting member fitted and movablelengthwise in the sleeve, means for adjustably connecting the sleevewith the lifting member, a tiexible jointed thrust member confined and`movable lengthwise 'in said `ronduit and adapted to engage at one end'with a part of said sleeve, and means for'.

end of the thrust member with the lifting member, and a lever mounted onsaid extension and connected with' the other end of the thrust member.v

' 5.`In a lifting jack the combination of a standard having anelbow-shaped conduit, a lifting' member guided in the standard adjacentto and parallel with a part of said conduit, a flexible thrust memberguided in said conduit and cou'iprising rollers and Spacing links,means' for connecting the thrust member at one end. with the liftingmember, and means for exerting pressure on the other end transversely tothe standard.

G. In a lifting jack the combination of a standard having a lateralextension forming therewith an elbow-shaped conduit, a lifting memberguided. in the standard parallel with a part of' said conduit a flexiblethrust member guided and movable lengthwise in said conduit around theturn therein and comprising rollers connected in pairs by axles andspacing links between the axles, a spring connecting the end rolleraxles of the. thrust mendacin'lcans forconnecting the thrust member atone end with the lifting member, and means for applying pressure to theother ond oi' the thrust member toward and transversely to the standard.

7. ln a lifting jack the combination of a stamlard *formed withl anelbow-shaped conduit, a sleeve guided in the standard parallel with apart of the conduit and provided vwith a lug projecting into theconduit, a ratchet bar guided in the sleeve, a pawl mounted: on thesleeve for engaging and lifting the ratchet bar, a {iexible'thrust memto engage at one end with the lug' on theI sleeve, and nieaiisI forapplyingpressure to the othei' end of the thruet nieinber toward andtraneverselv to the sleeve and ratchet bar.

8. In a lifting jack the coinbiuatioii of a standard forii'ied in oneSide with a 'vertical slot having,l an enlargement adjacent its lowerend, a sleeve guided and inovable lengthwise in the standard, a ratchetbar guided and iiiovable lengthwise-in the sleeve, a pawl pivoted on theSleeve and provided with a pin working' in the slot in the Standard andadapted to hold the pawl in engagement with the ratchet bar except whenthe pin is lowered with the sleeve and pawl into a position oppoeite theenlargement ot' the Slot, means for Aquicllj raieine' the ratchet har inthe sleeve, and ineans for raising' and lowering' the sleeve with theratchet bar 1n the stai'idard.

9. ln a lifting; jack the combination ot a 'Standard provided adjacentits lower' end with a lateral extension forming` therewith anelbow-shaped conduit having' an upright part, a ,vertically movablelifting ineiiiber ,e'uided in the standard parallel with .the uprightpart of the conduit therein, a flexible thrustineinber guided andmovable lengthwise in said conduit in, ineana for connecting the thrustineiiiber at one end with the lifting i'neinber, a lever 't'ulerunied onsaid lateral extension and connected with theI other end of the thrustincinbe and nieanay For locking the lever for holding, the lifting'nieniber atditl'lerent elevations.

lO. In a lifting jack the combination ot' a Istanda il having a lateralextension forniing the ewith an elbow-shaped conduit having anvv uprightpart, a sleeve guided and inovahle lengthwise in the Standard parallelwith the upright part ot the conduit therein. a lifting nieinber guidedand movable lengthwise in the Sleeve, ineans for adjustablj' engaging;the sleeve 'with the lifting around the turn there.-

ineinber, a flexible thi'unt ineniber `guided and iiiovable lengthwisein said conduit around the turn therein and engaging atone end with thesleeve, a lever mounted on ISaid extension 'torl quickly raisinpr thelifting iiieiiibei' in the sleeve to the load, and a lever inounted onsaid extension and connected with the other end of the thrust ineinberfor 'raising' and lowering the sleeve with the lifting; ineniber andload relative to the Istandard.

ll. ln a lifting` jack the combination of a standard havingl a lateralextension forming therewith an elbo\\', liaped conduit, a littingnieinber guided and inovable in the Standard adjacent to and parallelwith the adjacent part of the conduit therein, a Hexible thrust nieinberguided and movable lengthwise iifsaid conduit around the tui'n therein.ineans for connecting the lifting ineinhei: Ywith the adjacent end ofthe thrust nieinberr` and a jointed foldiinc` lever inounted on saidextension and connected with the other end of the thrust ineinbei'.

l). In a lifting' jack the combination of a staiidard provided adjacentits lower end with truck wheels and with a horizontal extension forming`with the standard an elbowshaped guide conduit, a caster wheel connectcdwith and adapted to support said extension adjacent the end oppoeite thestandard` a lifting' ineinberv guided and niovable iii 'the standardadjacent to and parallel with a portion of the guide conduit therein'and provided at its upper end with a Swiveled bearing, a flexible thrustineinber confined and movable lengthwise in said guide conduit aroundthe turn therein, ineans for at one end with the lifting ineniber, andineans inouiited on said extension for inanuallj' applying;` pleasure tothe other end of the thrust ni'eniber.

In witness whereof I hereto atlix in)l nature.V v Y LAIFRENCE J.BERKELEY.'

connecting the thrust ineinbei"

